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Veni, vidi, vici, vanquished

by Craig Lord, editor of the LEN Magazine







It was once a rule in Rome that no legion of soldiers be permitted to cross the Rubicon, lest they should attack the state. But when Julius Caesar crossed the line with his men he declared ?alea jacta est? (historians are now divided as to whether he meant alea Jaked est) or ?the die is cast?.

And so it was in the race pool, a line having been crossed long before swimmers had reached Rome, long before another 43 world records fell, each one another nail in the coffin of bodysuits that in February 2008 opened a Pandora?s Box of artificial enhancement to speed, buoyancy and endurance.
With the launch of the Speedo LZR Racer and a TYR equivalent, swimming, with FINA permission to pass, became an equipment-based sport practically overnight. Within six weeks, 19 world records had fallen: they were merely the first wave of what became a flood of 195 world records by the time this edition was being put to bed some 17 months after the sad suits saga began. By the end of 2009, the tally is expected to surpass 200.

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